Administered the WHO Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders to 100 inpatients in the only psychiatric hospital in Kuwait. 53 had evidence of depressed mood prior to their hypochondriacal symptoms, 16 had the opposite sequence of development, and 31 had no hypochondriacal symptoms. Comparison of the 3 groups revealed some differences that would suggest a less severe depressed mood in association with hypochondriacal symptoms. Results show that whether hypochondriasis preceded or followed depressed mood did not make any other difference to the total clinical picture.